Marie Force - Fatal Threat

As they headed for the stairs, Gonzo stopped all of a sudden to lean against the wall. He closed his eyes to take a deep breath.

“You okay?” Freddie asked.

Gonzo nodded but he didn’t move from his post against the wall.

Freddie wasn’t sure what he should do, so he waited. Since Arnold died, Gonzo had been more prone to moments such as this when the job seemed too much for him. The old Gonzo, the pre-Arnold-being-killed Gonzo, would’ve powered through a situation like this, knowing it was part of the job. This Gonzo... Well, he was different—quieter, moodier, anxious and tense. He didn’t smile as easily or joke around the way he used to.

Freddie missed the old Gonzo, but he understood. He couldn’t fathom what it would be like to lose Sam the way Gonzo had lost Arnold. Just having her taken off the grid by the Secret Service was making him crazy. Losing her forever... The very thought of it made him shudder with revulsion.

Freddie was relieved to take a call from his fiancée, Elin. He walked toward the stairwell to give Gonzo some space and took the call.

“Hey, hon, what’s up?”

“Just wondering if you’ve seen the news,” Elin said.

Freddie braced himself for whatever had happened now. “Nah, I’ve been working.”

“The Capital News Network is reporting that the vice president’s family has been threatened, and the Secret Service has taken Nick, Sam, their son and extended family to a safe location.”

“I knew about that. They took her right from a crime scene earlier. Did they say anything specific about the threat?”

“No, but the news people are speculating about the kind of threat that could force the Secret Service to take such drastic measures.”

“What’re they saying?”

“Terrorism is topping the list.”

Freddie sagged against the wall and released a deep sigh. “We were working a crime scene, and they just took her. It was crazy. For a while after, I wasn’t even entirely sure they were actually federal agents.”

“And you don’t know anything about where they’re being held?”

“Nope. Get this—Angela had Alex, so he’s with them in the secret location. Gonzo and Christina are losing their minds wondering where he is and how long it’ll be before they get him back.”

“Oh my God. That’s crazy. How’re you doing?”

“It’s been a very strange day all around.”

“When will you be home?”

“I’m going back to HQ for a short time to finish up some paperwork, and then I’ll be home. An hour or two.”

“I’ll make some dinner.”

“That sounds good.” He couldn’t wait to get home to her and put this hideous day behind him. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.” As he ended the call, Gonzo went past him down the stairs. Freddie followed him.

They drove back to HQ in silence. In the parking lot, Freddie said, “You go home to Christina. I’ll write this up and finish the reports from earlier.”

Gonzo nodded. “Thanks.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m great.” He said what Freddie wanted to hear, but any fool could see he was the opposite of great. “I’ll see you in the morning. Call me if anything pops overnight.”

“I will. You do the same.”

CHAPTER FOUR

FREDDIE WENT INSIDE, headed for the pit and found it deserted except for Detective Will Tyrone typing away on his computer. They worked together in silence for a long time, and Freddie was grateful for the quiet end to the chaotic day.

“You were worried that the people that took her weren’t really Secret Service?” Will’s voice cut through the silence.

“I didn’t know what to think,” Freddie said. “I wanted to believe that they were legit, but the way they took her was so... It had me wondering. But they called Gonzo to tell him they had Alex. That put my mind at ease that the agents were legit, but now I’m wondering what kind of threat was received that would lead Nick to authorize having his entire family brought in.”

“I...um... I need to tell you something.”

What now? Freddie sat back in his chair and looked up at his friend and colleague. “Sure. What’s going on?”

“I’ve decided to leave.”

“Leave...”

“The MPD.”

Freddie sat up straight. “What’re you talking about?”

“I... I can’t do it anymore, Freddie. I just can’t do it. I can’t take it. Ever since Jeannie was taken and then the lieutenant and then Gonzo being shot and then Arnold... It’s too much. It’s just too damned much.”

“Will, come on. We’ve had a rough year. Everyone agrees. But it’s not always like this.”

“Yes, it is! It’s always like this. Now you’re wondering if Sam was kidnapped earlier, and you’re wise enough after all that’s happened to know that’s not outside the realm of possibility. I can’t live like this, constantly fearing what’s going to happen next to people I care about.”

Freddie noticed that Will’s hands were shaking and beads of sweat lined his forehead. “Have you told anyone else how you’re feeling?”

He shook his head. “Normally, I’d tell A.J., but of course that’s not an option anymore.”

“I know you and Arnold were close—”

“He was my best friend, Freddie. My best friend.” Will’s voice broke, and Freddie’s heart went out to him.

“You have to wonder if he’d want you to give up a promising career because of what happened to him.”

“If he knew he’d be gunned down on a sidewalk because of the badge he carried, he’d tell me to run for my life and get out while I still can.”

“No, he wouldn’t. He’d tell you not to be a fool and throw away years of hard work over a senseless tragedy.” Before Will could reply, Freddie pressed on. “We all question what the hell we’re doing here sometimes. Do you think I haven’t? How do you think I felt when one of my own colleagues arranged to have my girlfriend roughed up to get me out of the picture so he could grab my partner?”

Will stood with his hands on his hips, his head down and his jaw tight with tension.

“One of the worst days of my life, hands down.” Freddie forced himself to continue, even though he hated to even think about that day, let alone talk about it. “Elin’s face... I mean, what they did to her... I wanted to kill someone. But I never once thought about leaving the job, Will. Not once.”

“Then I guess you’re a better man than I am, because leaving is all I’ve thought about for months now.”

“I’m not a better man than you. I just don’t want to see you make a big mistake that you’ll regret later.”

“I won’t regret it.”

“Have you talked to Sam about this?”

“I haven’t talked to anyone about it. Until now.”

“What about Trulo?” Freddie asked of the department shrink.

“I met with him the way we were required to after Arnold died, but no, I haven’t talked to him about leaving.”

“Would you? Would you please do that before you do something that can’t be undone?”

“I...”

“Please, Will. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for the rest of us. Do it for me as your friend. Do it because I’m asking you to.”

“It won’t change anything.”

“At least you’d know you did everything you could to make an informed, logical decision and not one based on emotions.”

“Yeah, fine. I’ll do it.”

“And you’ll let me know how it goes.”

Will nodded. “I will.”

Freddie released the breath he’d been holding. “Okay, then.” After Will went back to his cubicle to finish the report on the double suicide, Freddie closed his eyes for a few minutes to process what Will had said. Freddie certainly didn’t blame his colleague for feeling the way he did. In more than eight years on the job, he’d seen his share of people who’d decided police work wasn’t for them after they got a dose of the reality. But Will was a damned good detective, and it’d be a shame to see all that potential lost to grief that would, over time, become more manageable.